Randi Kreiss

How to decide, when fact and fiction collide?

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It’s impossible to discern the truth of any given situation, even when you have an eyewitness. (Numerous studies have revealed that witnesses “misread” events unfolding before their eyes due to unconscious bias.) So, as bystanders to political debates, we cannot hope to know the full truth of what anyone says.

“I’ll build a wall,” Donald Trump says.

“Comprehensive immigration reform will be taken up in my first 100 days,” Hillary Clinton says.

“Free college for all,” Bernie Sanders says.

“I will strengthen the U.S. military,” Marco Rubio says.

“I will abolish the IRS,” Ted Cruz says.

“I will wage war on radical Islamic terrorists and protect the homeland,” Ben Carson says.

“Running the state of Ohio is my top priority,” John Kasich says.

To further complicate the fact/fiction dilemma, we have candidates who reject the overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming and evolution. We have candidates who refuse to divulge emails or transcripts of speeches (which might reveal some truth) unless the other guy does. We have people who want to be president who say they will round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants, despite abundant proof that such a task would be impossible. We have other candidates who vow to fight the right to abortion and gay marriage and transgender rights, despite the clear fact that these social issues have already been adjudicated by public opinion.

Cruz and Trump have called each other out as liars. And they both are, many times over. But all of the candidates seem to parse and equivocate and bend the truth, whatever that may be.

Don’t you want to shout at the TV during the debates, “Just talk straight! Why do you want to be president, and what will you do with the immense power that comes your way if you are elected?”

Whom can we trust? Mostly, we have to trust ourselves. As I wrote last week, we have to do our work, read everything we can, study the candidates’ voting records and explore their ties to self-serving big industries and backers. It really is our sacred obligation as citizens. I believe, as President Obama said last week, that, ultimately, American voters will make a good choice.

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